Production of chitin‐ and chitosan‐oligosaccharide using the edible insect, Tenebrio molitor

Abstract Edible insects are not only good food ingredients for people, but also open the possibility of functional food and pharmaceutical raw materials. This study investigated the production of chitin‐oligosaccharide and chitosan‐oligosaccharide using edible insect, Tenebrio molitor ( Tm ). Chitin of Tm larvae was prepared using demineralization (2 N HCl, room temp., 3 h), deproteinization [5% NaOH (w/w) for 3.5 h at 70°C], and decolorization (3% H 2 O 2 for 1.5 h at 80°C). Chitosan of Tm larvae was prepared by Tm chitin deacetylation at 50% NaOH (w/w) for 5 h at 105°C. The chitin of Tm yielded 50% chitosan, and the final extraction yield of chitin and chitosan from dried Tm larvae was 6.82% and 3.75%, respectively. Chitin‐oligosaccharide and chitosan‐oligosaccharide of Tm larvae were prepared via acid hydrolysis using 5.0 g of both Tm chitin and Tm chitosan. Finally, 2.12 g chitin‐oligosaccharide of Tm larvae was obtained through acid hydrolysis (con. HCl 100 mL for 4 h at 40°C). Chitosan‐oligosaccharide (2.5 g) of Tm larvae was produced via acid hydrolysis (con. HCl 50 mL for 1 h at 81°C) and purification. These results indicate that the industrial applicability of Tm chitin‐oligosaccharide and chitosan‐oligosaccharide is viable in the field of health supplements, as a large amount of these oligosaccharides can be obtained from edible insect, Tm larvae.